Shoulder Board decisions

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed as he withdrew his hearing request and the underlying claim for a higher rating for his service-connected left shoulder disorder.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection of residuals of a left shoulder injury and lumbosacral spine disorder, finding no evidence to support these conditions were incurred in or aggravated by active duty.

The Veteran's service connection for a psychiatric disorder and left shoulder impingement is granted, but the initial rating for left shoulder impingement remains pending.

The Board found that the Veteran's left shoulder disability did not pre-exist service and was not aggravated by service. The hearing loss and tinnitus were not shown to be related to service, while the right eardrum perforation was also not shown to be related to service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left shoulder disorder is not related to his military service and therefore denied his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's service-connected right shoulder disorder has been productive of no more than moderate impairment, warranting a 20 percent rating.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including sending proper VCAA notice and obtaining treatment records. The VA will also schedule the Veteran for a VA examination to assess his current disabilities and their likely etiology.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a disability manifested by chronic pain of the left toe, hip, knee, and shoulder due to disease or injury that is secondary to her service-connected herpetic neuralgia. The claim for headaches as secondary to herpetic neuralgia was denied because no new and material evidence was submitted.

The Veteran's initial ratings for right shoulder rotator cuff tendonitis, degenerative changes of the thoracic spine, and right knee patellofemoral stress syndrome were denied as they do not meet the criteria for a higher rating under applicable diagnostic codes.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen the claim of entitlement to service connection for a left shoulder disability. The Veteran's current left shoulder disability is related to his in-service injury, but the extent of any right shoulder disability remains unclear.

The Board has granted service connection for left shoulder rotator cuff tear, degenerative disk disease of the cervical spine, bilateral elbow disorder, and bilateral knee disabilities (post-total knee arthroplasty).

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current left shoulder and left ankle disabilities are not related to his military service, including any in-service injury or exposure. The claims for service connection have been denied.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for a new VA examination to assess the current severity of his service-connected right shoulder disability. The case will be reviewed after this additional development.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings were denied as his conditions did not meet the criteria for higher ratings under applicable VA rating criteria.

The Board denied reopening of the claims for rheumatoid arthritis, right shoulder and neck disabilities, and left index finger disabilities. The Veteran appealed only the denial of reopening of these claims.

The Veteran's service connection claims for bilateral wrist, elbow, and thumb disorders, as well as a left shoulder disorder, were denied. The claim for residuals of a fracture of the right ring finger was also denied.

The Board found that the evidence does not support a link between the Veteran's current right shoulder condition and his military service, thus denying his claim for service connection.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's acromioclavicular separation, right shoulder, post-Mumford procedure does not meet or approximate criteria for a higher evaluation prior to February 14, 2012. The current rating of 20% is therefore denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left shoulder disability is etiologically related to his active service, and thus granted service connection for this condition.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims due to incomplete evidence and need for additional examinations.